10 Best Imran Khan Movies and Where to Watch Them
While his stardom couldn’t match the status of his uncle Aamir Khan, Imran Khan has also managed to carve his own fandom in Bollywood with experimental projects and lovable rom-com heroes.
The Rom-Coms of Imran Khan
While he appeared as a child artiste in his uncle’s ‘90s-era dramas Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and Jo Jeeta Woh Sikandar, Imran Khan made his full-fledged debut with the coming-of-age romantic comedy Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na. Playing the dove-eyed lover Jai Singh Rathod, Khan’s nuanced portrayal subverted familiar notions of masculinity in Bollywood. The protagonist doesn’t just introspect on his infatuation with a college sweetheart but also struggles to step out of his family pressures.
The movie appealed to younger Indian audiences, boasted some peppy musical numbers composed by AR Rahman, and drew all eyes on Khan as Bollywood’s next big thing. Unfortunately, his stellar debut didn’t pave the way for an easy ascent as Khan’s future romances often bombed at the box-office or polarised critics.
However, retrospective views on his rom-coms have been more favourable with many wanting the now-retired actor to make a long-awaited comeback. His comedies like Ek Mai Aur Ekk Tu, Gori Tere Pyaar Mei (both alongside Kareena Kapoor), Break Ke Baad and Mere Brother Ki Dulhan have all retained their popularity on streaming platforms with Imran Khan fans finding his protagonists to be swoon worthy “green flags”.
Imran Khan’s Experimental Side
Regardless of the turbulence that he faced with his big screen career, Khan hasn’t been afraid to experiment with multiple genres. While yielding mixed results, he tried his hand at the crime thriller genre with his sophomore feature Kidnap and the battle royale survival drama Luck. Some of his better experiments to watch include the dark comedy Delhi Belly that allowed him to shed his chocolate boy image and take on more mature roles. Then, there is Vishal Bharadwaj’s absurdist socio-political comedy Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola that found him playing a local business magnate’s loyal enforcer and an unexpected workers’ rights leader.
The period noir Once Upon A Time In Mumbai Dobaara, one of Khan’s final screen credits before retirement, starred him as Aslam Siddiqui, a mobster associate of Akshay Kumar’s Shohaib Khan (a character inspired by the real-life crimelord Dawood Ibrahim).
Why is Delhi Belly Imran Khan’s best movie to watch?
Unabashedly explicit and darkly hilarious, Delhi Belly is one of the finest dark comedies in modern Bollywood. Part of the movie’s legacy stems from screenwriter Akshshat Varma’s raw humor and the trio of lead performers: Imran Khan, Kunaal Roy Kapur, and comedian Vir Das.
The crime comedy finds the three leads playing hopeless social misfits who get embroiled in a whirlwind of criminal conspiracies and romantic misfortunes, setting a new precedent for adult comedies in India. Yes, Delhi Belly is heavy on the raunchiness and profanities but it’s all done in such an earnest manner that it rarely comes off as a cheap sex comedy. Khan might have taken a permanent sabbatical from his craft but his fans still eagerly hope for the day when they’ll get a Delhi Belly 2.
If you too are riding the wave of Imran Khan’s resurgence in popularity, we have curated his best movies for your viewing pleasure along with a handy guide on where to stream them.
